A Charles County judge sentenced James Fred Coffen, 46, of Bryans Road, to 35 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a 2023 shooting at a White Plains bar that killed two people and endangered several others, State’s Attorney Anthony B. Covington announced.
Coffen was first charged with murder in the Sept. 29, 2023, shooting, which the Chronicle reported at the time as a double homicide on the 4700 block of Crain Highway. Mariah Termetrice Logan, 27, of Waldorf, was struck inside the bar, and Paul Ernest Fleming, 36, of Indian Head, was hit outside; both died at a hospital. On Nov. 1, 2024, after a 10-day trial, a Charles County jury convicted Coffen of manslaughter in Logan’s death, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of attempted manslaughter, reckless endangerment and related firearm offenses, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the night began with a verbal dispute between Fleming and two men, Coffen and another man, inside the bar. Surveillance video showed Coffen and the other man walking to Coffen’s vehicle in the parking lot as the argument continued. Using the vehicle for cover, the other man pulled a handgun and fired at Fleming and three other men nearby, according to the office. Fleming returned fire and was hit. The other man then fled.
Prosecutors said Coffen then drove toward Fleming and the three men in front of the bar, rolled down his window and fired. Logan, who was inside and had no part in the dispute, was struck. The bar’s DJ was nearly hit as well.
Judge Carrington Martin sentenced Coffen to 10 years for the manslaughter of Logan, followed by a consecutive 20 years for the firearm count, the first five of which must be served without the possibility of parole, and a consecutive five years for reckless endangerment, for a total of 35 years. On each of the three attempted-manslaughter counts, he received 10 years with all but 1,103 days suspended, and five years concurrent on the firearm possession offense. He was given credit for 1,103 days already served and must complete five years of supervised probation after his release.
Judge Martin told Coffen the sentence had to serve as a deterrent. “The sentence has to deter other people from doing what you did,” the judge said, adding that Coffen made a decision to use a gun he was not supposed to have.
The release does not name the second man or say what became of his case. The Chronicle reported in October 2023 that a second suspect had been charged in what it called the Jimmie’s Paddock double homicide.
